Computer chassis assembly with a single center pluggable midplane board

• US 6,208,522 B1
• Filed: 02/12/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Manweiler, Kurt A., Hardt, Thomas T., Sanders, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US09/249,506
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 361/752, 361/725-727, 361/736, 361/796, 361/683-686
• US Class Current: 361/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1429 for circuits carrying a CPU and adapted to receive expansion cards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/928 Modular electrically interengaging parts, e.g. stove with replaceable heating elements formed on coupling parts

Abstract

A modularized computer chassis for housing multiple computer modules, such as a processor module, media storage module, an I/O module, and power supplies includes a housing divided generally into four regions, with each region configured for receiving one of the modules or power supplies. A single center pluggable midplane board is positioned in the middle of the housing such that each of the modules and power supplies can be interconnected through the single midplane board. The single center pluggable midplane board includes direct pluggable connectors which correspond to connectors on each of the modules and power supplies, such that each of the modules and power supplies are directly connected to the single pluggable midplane board, and no ribbon signal and power cables are needed for the connection. The direct connection between the single center pluggable midplane board and the modules and power supplies helps to minimize the height of the chassis, thereby saving valuable rack space.

Claims

1. A computer chassis for housing a plurality of electrical components, comprising:

a first electrical component, having a processor;

a second electrical component;

a housing having a first region and a second region, said first region for receiving therein the first electrical component, and the second region for receiving therein the second electrical component; and

an interface positioned intermediate said first region and said second region, said interface for transfer of data between the processor in the first electrical component and the second electrical component when the first electrical component is received in said first region and when the second electrical component is received in said second region, the interface having;

a first connector connected to said interface, said first connector for directly connecting the interface to the first electrical component when received in said first region; and

a second connector connected to said interface, said second connector for directly connecting the interface to the second electrical component when received in said second region.

2. The computer chassis of claim 1, wherein the interface includes only one circuit board.

3. The computer chassis of claim 1, wherein the interface is generally planar having a first side and a second side, said first connector being connected to said first side of said interface generally opposite the second connector.

4. The computer chassis of claim 1, further comprising:

a third connector connected to said interface, said third connector for directly connecting the interface to a third electrical component,

the third electrical component being received in a third region of the housing oriented vertically in relation to the first region.

5. The computer chassis of claim 1, wherein said interface is removably connected within said housing.

6. The computer chassis of claim 4, wherein said interface is configured to transmit data from the processor to the third electrical component when connected with said third connector.

7. The computer chassis of claim 4, wherein said housing further includes a divider, the divider dividing said housing into a top tier and a bottom tier, the bottom tier for receiving the second electrical component and the top tier for receiving the third electrical component.

8. The computer chassis of claim 5, wherein said interface is configured to be installed and removable without tools.

9. A computer system comprising;

a processor module, including a processor;

a memory module;

a power supply module;

a chassis for housing the processor module, memory module, and power supply module; and

an interface for directly coupling the processor module to the memory module, and the power supply module to the processor module and memory module.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein said first electrical component includes a plurality of processors and a plurality of memory devices.

11. The computer chassis of claim 9, wherein the said interface is generally planar having a first side and a second side, with a first connector and a second connector being connected to said first side and a third connector being connected to the second side, wherein the processor module is directly connected to the first connector, the memory module is directly connected to the second connector, and the power supply module is directly connected to the third connector.

12. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising:

a fourth electrical component; and

a fourth connector connected to the interface, the fourth connector for directly connecting with said fourth electrical component.

13. The computer system of claim 9, wherein said second connector is a multi-pin connector.

14. The computer system of claim 9, wherein said interface is removably connected to said chassis, said interface being removable without tools.

15. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the first connector, second connector and third connector are coupled to a single circuit board within the interface.

16. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the chassis further includes a divider, said divider for dividing said chassis into a top tier and a bottom tier, said bottom tier for receiving said memory module and said top tier for receiving said processor module.

17. A computer, comprising:

a first computer component;

a second computer component;

a third computer component, disposed vertically in relation to the first computer component;

a housing having a front region and a rear region, the front region for housing the first computer component and the third computer component and the rear region for housing the second computer component;

an interface for interfacing the first computer component, the second computer component and the third computer component, the interface positioned intermediate to the front region and the rear region of the housing and having;

a first connector for electrically coupling the first computer component to the interface;

a second connector for electrically coupling the second computer component to the interface, the second connector generally directed towards the rear region of the housing; and

a third connector for electrically coupling the third computer component to the interface.

18. The computer chassis of claim 17, wherein the first computer component includes a processor.

19. The computer chassis of claim 17, wherein the third computer component includes computer memory.

20. A computer system, comprising:

a chassis;

a first module disposed in a first region of the chassis;

a second module disposed in the first region of the chassis, the second module being disposed vertically in relation to the first module;

a third module disposed in a second region of the chassis; and

an interface for electrically coupling data and power between the first module, the second module, and the third module, the interface being disposed intermediate the first region and the second region,

wherein the interface, the first, second, and third modules have electrical connectors for direct electrical coupling of the first, second and third modules to the interface.